Life on film set of ITV series Joan in Birmingham as residents describe 'a bit of a fuss'

New crime drama 'Joan', starring Sophie Turner, airs on ITV on Sunday

"It was a weird day," said Jewellery Quarter resident Sam while getting ready to walk his dog. "Pretty much a genuine A-lister, on our doorstep, and TV lot everywhere."

Sam lives near to where Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner was spotted last year filming her new ITV show 'Joan' - airing this Sunday. The 20-something-year-old, who chose not reveal his last name, said he noticed the X-Men actor on his way back from "getting milk and stuff".

"I'd gone to Tesco and, on my way back, just saw a load of people making a bit of a fuss," he said. "I realised when I walked over they were filming something - and then I saw [Turner] by Button Factory."

Read more: Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner spotted filming ITV drama Joan in Birmingham city centre

Turner, best known for playing Sansa Stark in David Benioff's fantasy show, was pictured in Regent Street sporting blue skinny jeans and a bleach blonde wig. Photographer Raphael Lionel, who snapped images of the 28-year-old, said he was pleased to have captured "live action".

The six-part drama series follows the story of real-life diamond thief Joan Hannington, played by Turner, and depicts her journey from housewife to criminal mastermind. During filming, shop fronts in JQ's Warstone Lane were transformed into 1980s London - the time period Joan is set.

Sylvia Durham, owner of jewellers F.Meeks & Co, said: "It was good. They turned the area into markets."

Kris, co-owner of Tiffany's Diamonds in Warstone Lane, said: "I was on holiday at the time but my business partner told me all about it. The set was next door to us."

The Joan TV crew returned to the city months later in August 2023, when they shot scenes at Birmingham's historic Piccadilly Arcade. The owner of Piccadilly Cobbler, based in the arcade, told us: "They were great with us. Our shop was still open for the day; they used one of the empty units to film. It was interesting to see what they were getting up to. I knew of [Turner]. I've seen things she's been in, like X-Men."

Barry Whitmore, who came to see the shoot in Jewellery Quarter, told us last year: "I'm a huge Game of Thrones fan so it was cool to see Sophie doing her work. I'd say Sansa is up there with my favourite characters."

Joan premieres on ITV1 (and ITVX) at 9pm this Sunday, September 29.